Osceola

Mt Osceola Elevation: 4,315 ft

Views: Very Good
East Osceola Elevation: 4,156 ft
Views: Good along the trail; none at the summit

Via Mount Osceola Trail

Trip Summary

Total Distance: 8.4 miles
Estimated Time: 6 hours
Difficulty: to Osceola is Easy; to/from E Osceola is Moderate; chimney is Difficult

From 93N take exit 31 and take a right onto Tripoli Rd. Follow Tripoli Rd for about 7 miles. After a while the road will turn to dirt and you'll pass a number of other trailheads before the small Osceola Trailhead parking lot on the left. There are outhouse facilities available at the trailhead.

Mount Osceola
The Mount Osceola Trail begins on the far left end of the trail head parking lot and maintains a slow gradual incline for quite some distance. You stay on this trail for 3.2 miles with no turns. As the trail loops around to the left you can look through the trees to your right and see Mt Osceola. There are a number of switchbacks as the trail gets steeper. Toward the top the trail gets quite thin as you climb up some rocks. Looking out over the valley are some nice views through the trees.


The trail flattens out amidst many short conifers and you know you've reached the top. At the end of the trail is a large flat rock area which looks out to the east. At the highest rock here you can find the peak marker. Then find a place out of the wind where you can enjoy the view and your lunch.

Views to the north and east (click to enlarge)

to East Osceola

To head over to East Osceola, the ridge trail continues from the north side of the rock face. This drops to a flatter section along the ridge, then a steep section, then another flat section. Then you come to the infamous chimney, a steep crevasse wide enough for one person dropping almost straight down. Fortunately, for those who are not avid rock climbers, there is a a bypass to the left which is slightly less steep climbing down some boulders. Plus it's pretty short, so honestly it's not that bad.

Looking down the upper section of the chimney

Looking down the lower section of the chimney

The bypass to the left is a bit easier

Looking up at the chimney from the bottom

At the bottom of the cliff, it flattens out again along the ridge, before coming to one last fairly steep section up to the summit. Along this section, there is a lovely viewpoint of the Franconia Ridge to the northwest, which will be your best views from this peak.

Views out to the west and north (click to enlarge)

Continue up the trail for only 0.1mi or so to find the cairn at the summit.

One last steep section

Cairn at the summit of E Osceola

Then retrace your steps back to Osceola and down the mountain.

Official Trail Map: (click to enlarge)

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Via Greeley Ponds Trail
Trip Summary

Total Distance: 7.6 miles

Estimated Time: 5-6 hours

Difficulty: Moderate; chimney is Difficult

From I-93 take exit 32 and turn left onto Rt-112/Kancamagus Hwy through Lincoln. Follow Rt-112 east for about 10 miles. You will see a sign for the small Greeley Ponds Trailhead parking lot on the right. Parking is free, but it's a very small lot. There are no facilities available.

East Osceola

Set off along the Greeley Ponds Trail marked by yellow rectangles. This is an easy trail over roots and rocks and some small creeks with only the slightest gradual incline. A short ways into the trail you will cross the South Fork stream.

After 1.3 miles, the Mt Osceola Trail will diverge to the right.

If you are up for a short detour... continue left down the Greeley Ponds Trail for around 0.3 miles and you will come to the first of the Greeley Ponds. Continue on the trail along the hill right next to the pond. At the far side, take the little bushwhacked trail to the left around to a clearing on the southeast side of the pond which has some lovely reflective views over the water. Lighting will be best in the later morning hours with the sunlight hitting the Osceola cliffs from the east.

There is a second pond further down the trail, but I didn't feel like walking that far. After checking out the ponds, head back to the intersection and up the Mt Osceola Trail. This is where the incline begins almost immediately up some rock stairs.

The trail alternates between flat sections and steeper sections as you ascend diagonally up the side of the mountain to avoid the steep cliffs you may see through the trees to your right. The trail is not very well marked, but it is well travelled so it is not too hard to follow.

Eventually the trail turns to go uphill and gets fairly steep, climbing over rocks. You will pass by a large rock slide, but fortunately the trail goes around it (watch out for the bees here!). This steep rock staircase provides a nice view out behind you.

Bald rock face to the left

Trail goes around to the right

A little further on there is a more jagged rock slide which you do need to climb. But this again provides another nice viewpoint.

Enjoy the views out to the east (click to enlarge)

Then climb up this jagged rock face

The last hard bit is a kind of crevasse you must maneuver, but this is then the top of the steepness.

Climb up through this little crevasse

At this point, there is a little side path off to the right which goes over to a lovely viewpoint of the Franconia Ridge.

Lovely views to the northwest from the viewpoint (click to enlarge)

From here onward it is easy hiking along a ridge trail with only one short steep bit. Along the side of the trail you will find a large cairn marking the summit.

Easy ridge trail

Cairn at the summit of E Osceola

With the summit covered in trees there are no clear views from here. But continuing down the Mt Osceola Trail toward the main peak about 0.1mi further there is an opening in the trees which provides lovely views to the northwest along the Franconia Ridge.

Views out to the west and north (click to enlarge)

to Mount Osceola

The trail descends sharply down some rocks, then levels out to a gradual ridge trail. This takes you over to the infamous chimney, a steep crevasse requiring rock climbing almost straight up.

Looking up at the chimney	Rock climbing necessary

Fortunately, hikers have made a little bypass around to the right. It is still climbing up rocks, but not nearly as steep. Also it is short, so it's not that bad.

Bypass scramble to the right

Past the chimney, it is again a fairly gradual ridge trail with only one short steep section. Then the trail peaks through the trees and opens up to a large, flat rock summit with cement foundations from an old fire tower and lovely views out to the east. The best photography lighting from here would then be in the afternoon with a westerly sun.

Views to the north and east (click to enlarge)

Then retrace your steps back to East Osceola and down the mountain.

Official Trail Map: (click to enlarge)